#280 - Pumpkin: we added spices to the pulp**, then the casting was highlighted with paint

#044 - Turkey: we added spices to the pulp**, then the casting was highlighted with paint

#242 - Maple Leaf: we used white pulp (no spices), then just painted the castingClear acrylic varnish
Paint
Napkin ring(s)— Note: you can recycle some of your old napkin rings (we used some plastic ones we found at the surplus store)
1 yard raffia ribbon for each napkin ring
Dried flowers and berries
Glue

**Spiced paper castings: To achieve a rich, warm brown color, add a small amount of cinnamon or pumpkin-pie spice to your pulp in the blender. Be careful not to add too much, or the color will become too dark. If you varnish the casting, the color will turn slightly darker. Also, too much spice can cause the pulp to stick to your cookie stamp. It will help if you use cooking oil to pretreat the stamp, then clean it well when you're finished.

Instructions:

1. Cut out the design from each casting.
2. Apply a coat of varnish to both sides of the cut-out castings and let dry.
3. Choose a method:
• Paint the napkin rings in the color of your choice. . . or
• Wrap each napkin ring tightly with raffia ribbon, leaving a short piece at the end to work into the flower arrangement. Apply a bit of glue to this last section of raffia to secure it.
4. Paint the cut-out castings and let dry; then apply a final coat of varnish and let dry. Note: If you painted your napkin rings, you may want to paint your cut-outs in the same colors.
5. First glue the flowers and berries onto the ring and then the cut-out. Use the tail end of the raffia as part of the flower arrangement, or tuck and glue it to the inside of the napkin ring.

Special Effects:

To obtain the unique effect pictured here, apply a coat of varnish to both sides and edges of your cut-outs. Apply color with markers or experiment with acrylic paints and lightly dry-brush highlights onto the leaves. Try letting color spread from the middle of leaves. For a different effect, use color on just the edges of leaves. Look at the leaves in your yard for inspiration and have fun!

Below: To give an antiqued effect on the Sheaf of Wheat casting, we used a little yellow ochre with a touch of white paint, dry brushed onto the surface to pick up the detail .

Projects designed and created by Sue Moore. Photograph by Paperworks, Corvallis, OR.

This paper casting project is featured along with dozens of others in our book The Art of Paper Casting, which includes basic paper casting instructions, techniques for special effects, and a glossary of terms.